Lin Mu's POV:
Centuries continued their silent march within the Verdant Heaven. I had long since solidified my Foundation Establishment and was steadily progressing through the early stages of Core Formation. The swirling core of energy within my dantian pulsed with increasing potency, granting me a level of power that felt almost surreal compared to my initial helplessness.
My control over the spiritual energy had become more refined. I could now manifest it into simple tools and project it outwards for short-range attacks. The accelerated time allowed for countless hours of practice, honing my nascent abilities.
The unease I had felt regarding the Verdant Heaven persisted. I had begun to actively explore the deeper regions of this miniature world, venturing beyond the areas I had initially frequented. I discovered ancient ruins, overgrown with luminous vines, hinting at a civilization that might have once thrived here. These ruins held fragments of strange scripts and remnants of powerful artifacts, all radiating a faint, residual energy.
The scorch marks and withered patches were more frequent in these older areas, and I occasionally encountered creatures that seemed… corrupted, their energy twisted and aggressive. These encounters, though challenging, provided me with valuable combat experience and a deeper understanding of the Verdant Heaven's hidden history.
My visits to Willow Creek remained consistent, though my interactions were now primarily focused on Ling Yue. The subtle connection between us had deepened into a quiet understanding. She no longer seemed surprised by my occasional displays of unexpected knowledge or subtle assistance. A nascent trust had blossomed, a feeling that we were connected by something more than just shared village roots.
One evening, as we sat by the small stream that ran through Willow Creek, Ling Yue shared a troubling tale. A sickness had begun to spread in a neighboring village, a strange affliction that weakened the body and drained one's spiritual energy. The local healers were baffled, and the whispers spoke of a lingering shadow, a malevolent influence.
The description sent a shiver down my spine. It mirrored the corrupted energies I had encountered in the older parts of the Verdant Heaven. Could this sickness be related to the imbalance I had sensed?
"Master Qin is going to travel there tomorrow," Ling Yue said, her brow furrowed with worry. "But he is old, Brother Lin. And the journey is dangerous."
A protective instinct flared within me. Ling Yue was kind, dedicated, and possessed a unique talent that deserved to flourish. The thought of her being affected by this malevolent influence stirred a sense of urgency I hadn't felt in centuries.
"Perhaps… perhaps I could accompany Master Qin," I offered, keeping my tone casual. "Two sets of hands are better than one, especially if the road is perilous."
Ling Yue looked at me, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "You? But… your farm work…"
"My parents can manage for a few days," I replied smoothly. "I've always had an interest in herbs. Maybe I can be of some assistance."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That would be… kind of you, Brother Lin."
And so, for the first time in centuries, my secluded existence was about to intersect with the problems of the outside world in a more direct way. My journey to the neighboring village with Master Qin and Ling Yue would be a departure from my carefully maintained anonymity, a step towards potentially revealing a fraction of the power I had accumulated in secret.
The journey was uneventful for the first day. Master Qin, relying on his years of experience, pointed out various medicinal plants along the way, occasionally quizzing Ling Yue. I remained mostly silent, observing the surrounding landscape, my senses alert for any sign of the malevolent influence Ling Yue had described.
As we neared the affected village, a palpable sense of unease settled in the air. The vibrant greens of the forest seemed muted, the sounds of nature strangely subdued. The village itself was eerily quiet, a stillness that felt unnatural.
The villagers we encountered were gaunt and weak, their eyes listless. A palpable aura of decay hung in the air. Master Qin immediately set to work, examining the afflicted, his brow furrowed in concern.
Ling Yue, her sensitivity to vital energies heightened, moved through the village with a quiet intensity, her eyes scanning the environment. I followed her, my senses reaching out, trying to perceive the subtle distortions in the spiritual energy.
It was then that I felt it – a faint but distinct shadow clinging to the village, a cold, stagnant energy that seemed to be draining the life force of everything it touched. It was similar to the corrupted areas in the Verdant Heaven, but somehow… more focused, more malevolent.
My centuries of secluded cultivation, my slow but steady progress through the early stages of Core Formation, had granted me a level of spiritual sensitivity far beyond that of Master Qin or even Ling Yue. I could sense the lingering shadow, its source still hidden, but its presence undeniable.
The time for subtle observation was over. The whispers of unease had manifested into a tangible threat, and it was affecting someone I had begun to care for. The Eternal Earthling, who had sought only to cultivate in peace, was about to step out of the shadows, even if only slightly, to protect the budding connection he had found in the mortal world. The secrets of the Verdant Heaven, and the power I had diligently nurtured within it, might finally be called upon.